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The winner of the 2006 IET Young Woman Engineering Apprentice of the Year Award was Charlotte Dean, age 22 from Oakenholt near Flint.
Charlotte was the first winner of this award which was launched in 2006 as part of a number of IET awards to celebrate young women in engineering. The award highlights the value of apprenticeships to young women and the highly skilled individuals that they produce.
Charlotte has recently completed a multi-skilled automation apprenticeship at UPM-Kymmene, a newsprint manufacturer based in Deeside, Flintshire.
Charlotte's major contribution to the automation department was to plan, design and implement a training rig which enables the testing of specific software and hardware for UPM-Kymmene. The testing of the software and hardware has enabled the company to train employees on vital equipment in-house instead of sending employees to external courses. Charlotte received a distinction for this as part of her HNC project.
In addition, Charlotte is active in encouraging more young people into engineering and supporting her work colleagues. In particular, Charlotte has attended a number of GETSET school events organised by Setpoint in Merseyside to promote engineering through application and example. Charlotte is also part of a focus group for the organisation Career Wales, providing her input into how the organisation can make engineering more appealing to young people, particularly girls.
Charlotte was initially attracted to a career in engineering as she always had a passion for design and practical work and obtained great satisfaction from seeing her designs manufactured. Charlotte decided to find out about careers in design and technology and was pointed in the direction of an apprenticeship.
Robin McGill, chief executive and secretary of the IET said: "The IET is committed to raising awareness of the value of apprenticeships, particularly as the engineering sector is currently facing skills shortages. Charlotte is a wonderful role model for other young women considering entering the profession through the apprenticeship route and I wish her all the very best for the future."
James Dyson, chairman of the James Dyson Foundation said: "Embarking on an apprenticeship scheme is a good route into engineering: it's very much about being involved and hands on from day one. Too much importance is placed on going to university. We are encouraged to become professionals and to avoid industry and manufacturing; however, many overlook the rewarding opportunities that industry can offer young people, particularly women who are not traditionally encouraged to enter these fields. I believe that women have a valuable role to play within engineering, design and technology which is why the awards have my full support."
Charlotte received a cheque for £750 donated by the James Dyson Foundation, a trophy and an inscribed certificate.
Other winners at the awards ceremony included:
- Katy Deacon, 26, from Cleckheaton near Bradford who won the 2006 IET Young Woman Engineer of the Year Award
- Maire McLoone, 28, from Belfast won the WES (Women’s Engineering Society) prize
- Suzanne Stamford, 24, from Cambridgeshire won the Mary George Memorial Prize
All media enquiries to:
Jenny Bond
T: 020 7344 5445
M: 07725 498117
E: jennybond@theiet.org
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